We were lucky to catch up with Rita Madlock recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rita thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?

One of my greatest recollection was during my apprenticeship as a commercial interior architectural designer in the MidWest. To graduate students were required to spend so many hours interning for various designers and studios in the area. Although, I was a good student, I was unable to secure an internship once my interviewers saw that I was black. Their concern was that customers might not be comfortable with a person of color designing in their suburban businesses and homes. When I finally did secure an internship with a then popular local designer, she candidly assured me that she was the one taking the risk, and felt for me, as she knew no one else in her field would have me. I was assigned to her assistant who made certain to remind me throughout my working hours that I should be grateful for their generous sacrifice of allowing me to work for them for free.

The assistant assigned me to minimal resourcing of materials in a dimly lit backroom of the design studio as to not be seen by clients. What she didn’t know is that I loved being surrounded by all the potential fabrics, finishes, and, accessories.
Every morning when the owner would arrive, she would see the numerous beautiful design concepts I had created without even having a design project. It wasn’t long before the owner started having private lunches with me, taking me on design call, sharing private client details, and even going as far as to say that I was talented. Better yet. I could feel she was conflicted with how she may have had the situation twisted. That maybe, she was the recipient of something special as there was now a genuine shift in her relationship with me. I was removed from the back store room, and now freely roamed the studio, and introduced to each customer as her wonderful new intern.

As for her assistant, this new appreciation of my presence by the owner was not well received as when the owner was not present, she reminded me that I worked under her. At the time of my internship, I still studied ballet, played my violin along with other interest. When the assistant learned that my interest went well beyond the design studio walls, she pulled me aside one morning telling me,” you need to choose one thing and learn to do that one thing well.” At the time of this statement, it never occurred to me that one had to make a choice, when there was so much to explore and appreciate. It was at that time that I realized the assistant was afraid, and had placed limits on her very own life. She’d been mean, angry, and unkind to me, and now dared me to dream all the dreams. How was this black girl whom they had taken in by the charity of their supposed hearts be filled with so much wonder and unlimited curiosity that she felt threatened by and now wished to squelch. I have never forgotten this golden experience as it was worth my entire internship, and a lesson for similar future life experiences. All I wanted to learn was good design, but what I really learned is that those who feel limited with attempt to find power by imposing limits upon you. From that experience I’ve had even greater reverence for all the gifts I’ve been allowed to explore in life. I claim nothing, but I have benefit from the exposure of much love and assistance. Years later, with my own design business, I would be sourcing flooring for a client. Guess who was the sales clerk? I thanked her for assisting me during my internship. Love knows no limits.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always been drawn to artistic forms of movement, music, and art, but it was my work as a commercial designer that led me into the realm of health care fitness. I discovered I had an interest in anatomical design when designing spaces for health care practitioners. The realization that the same concepts of structural organization in architecture were basically the same in human anatomy led me to create a user friendly method for explaining the purpose and intent of the human skeletal system.

Let’s start with my company’s unique and disarming name Monkeytail Intelligent Exercise, (MIE), is in reference to our once very present tail, the coccyx. “When in doubt stick it out”, is an example of the many funky friendly ways of anatomically introducing and identifying parts of human body. The add value for me was that I was able to call upon all my previous experience in music, movement, and design to develop a unique training method that incorporated a level of education often omitted in fitness. Although, trained in most modalities of fitness, I choose not to just focus on the genre, but on introducing the purpose and function of their body to the client. “The genre and modality of movement is irrelevant if you don’t know what you are working with.” I feel strongly that it’s good for all of us to know a bit about ourselves and body before handing it over to someone else. The fitness culture of today is so often focused on external results, foregoing what really counts internally. So, like in good architectural design, I look to see if the structure has good bones to support the demands of past, present, and future, both physically and mentally.

What sets my training method apart begins with an initial APE Assessment, (Athletic Performance Evaluation) created to introduce the individual to me, and what is often their first conscious communication both, physically and mentally with their own body. Creating APE allows me to demystify, educate, and get the client excited about the joyful relationship with their bodies. One size does not fit all, so I feel my individualized custom programs allows for a level creativity that never disappoints, but continually evolves due to my reverence for each individual that I serve in the practice of health care fitness.
It is an incredible honor to witness the immediate change and discovery of awareness that goes beyond a modality or genre. After all, “everything you need you already have.”

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In the spring of 1994 I had a successful career as a commercial designer, and raising my young son in WI.,when upon awakening one morning I suddenly found my physical world literally turned upside down, unable to stand and balance myself. I was overcome with both vertigo and nausea which landed me in the emergency where puzzled physicians struggled to understand why I was experiencing such a severe case of vertigo that led to my inability walk or sit up in bed? Initially, they were most concerned with how to control the extreme regurgitation that was causing my overall body weakness. After exhaustive testing, I was heavily medicated for the nausea, sent back home to bed, and told that more neurological testing would be required, but their preliminary findings suggested I’d experienced recently a high grade fever of sort that had inflamed the vestibular nerve of the inner ear. Up until this episode, I was considered the picture of health, and I could’t recall any medical history of issues concerning fevers.

I continued with more through testing and was finally diagnosed with a rare, but sever disabling form of Vestibular Neuritis. That possibly due to some mysterious viral infection of the inner ear canal, the vestibular nerve of my right ear was permanently damaged beyond repair. My prognosis was that I would be bed ridden indefinitely and that they could only really treat and medicate the symptoms of my constant nausea. I was told that usual episodes of Vestibular Neuritis last for a few weeks at the longest, but in my case it would be interminable, and considered a disability that I would have to live with for the rest of my life.

My once active and full world came to a strange abrupt halt with the realization that I was truly alone in this new situation. I’d always been self motivated, reliant and self employed in my adult life. How was I to ever work again, let alone raise a young child? The thought of who would want the responsibility of taking care of the both of us weighted upon me heavily emotionally. It was’t my pride, but I struggled with the loss of independence, and self preservation that had previously allowed me to adjusting to the many obstacles of my life. However, this speed bump at this particular time in my life sent me spiraling out mentally, that is until an early morning thunderstorm. Alone, lying in the dark, listening to the harsh wind and rain I contemplated how to exist this experience, when an unspoken thought presented itself. ” This isn’t about you, it’s for you.”
This unspoken message would be my reconnect to the world.

There was an immediate shift in me that was unwilling to accept that I would be bedridden for the rest of my life, I turned to both my background in dance and my recent discovery of Eastern Art Medicine, Ayurveda. Although, I was new to understanding the complexity of Ayurveda, it helped tremendously in explaining the energetic influences of balancing energy systems to enhance overall health. I adopted an Ayurvedic diet and began to create new physical exercises for my body and sight to retrain my brain to accept a new way to balance. I started to embrace my new relationship with my disability, and soon started crawling, then walking, and finally wobbling dancing again. I don’t know if I personally was so resilient during this difficult period, but that stormy night I learned that my soul was resilient. I was not alone.

I am currently writing a book based on this experience and how it led to the creation of Monkeytail Intelligent Exercise and its training systems.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The Artful Pivot versus The Artful Dodger
” Never underestimate the ability of the entrepreneur.”

“The Artful Pivot” is and has been the name of the game in my business, career, and personal life.
“The Artful Dodger” refers to a young, skilled, and cunning pickpocket in Charles Dicken’s novel Oliver Twist.

Although, many will associate this reference with negativity based on the acts of young Oliver, I’m neither judge or jury of this fictitious character. However, I’ve employ many of the good quality personality traits exhibited by young Oliver. Those traits most notable being his youthful innovations, cleverness, skilled wit, nimble and flexible attitude, and most of his adaptability to situations with a keen foresee for obstacles. Thus he was highly effective with evading situations that might render most defeated or powerless without options. Call him what you may, he was at best an innovative entrepreneur who knew when and how to pivot. As Darth Vader say, “you can use your powers for good or bad, but you must know when to pivot”. I certain this is not the correct quote, but you get the idea.

One of my greatest life changing pivotal period occurred as the result of a dream job gained and lost within the same year. In my designing business where I was retained as an in house designer for two privately owned health clubs in Wisconsin. I was also working part-time as one of their many fitness instructor and had what was a comfortable and respectful professional business relationship with the owners. One day, I’m approached by one of the owners and asked if I knew anything about
creating a mind / body fitness program within their clubs.

Since, there were no such programs in the city, they’d been researching it and wanted to be one of the first clubs to offer such new progressive programming. In short, I was offered this new job opportunity to devise a dream program, manage and train staff, along with the purchase and implementation of new equipment for both clubs. Of course, this new full-time job would require that I put my design business aside to focus on the vast detail of creating this entire new division in their clubs and the city. I was allowed to hire a personal assistant and set out to study and train in Canada, New York, and Florida. I created a name and brand for the program, and proceeded to offer the new mind/body program with in their clubs.

Although, the program was still in its infancy of months, it was a huge success, with totally booked full private sessions and group classes for both facilities. Because I was on salary, and I had also negotiated for a percentage of commissions from private training, thus my income was sizable for this new enterprise. The owners had not foreseen the financial potential of the program, as they were only looking to be the pioneers of such programming. With that said, they summarized that my income would be substantial by years end, along with the expectation that the program would only become more popular, they unexpectedly fired me.

I’d arrived at work in the morning as usual, and was called to the owners office as our normal weekly meeting were only to be met by a security guard. The owner was there, but spoke no words as security led me out? I briefly recall my assistant sitting in the owner”s office crying when I arrived, so I thought possibly she was in some form of trouble, but she remained seated as I was escorted out to the parking lot alone? Not knowing what to do I turn to see my assistant rushing towards me in tears, trembling asking me what had just happened? I didn’t have an answer, so we just held each other. Still in shock, she said the owners had offered her my job just before they’d called me to the office? “My Job?” We both looked at each other, and knew I’d been used.

Dumbfounded and numb we both headed home without our new wonderful jobs. By the evening my phone stated to ring with clients looking for me. The owner was telling the members that I’d hadn’t shown up for work that day. Knowing my work ethics and commitment to the program I created, members were not buying it, and sought out the truth for themselves. The realization that I had no job hit me hard the next morning, as I’d given up my design work for this new job. but I did’t have much time to wallow in my pain as clients continue to call, looking and asking where could they come to work with me?

At the time, I had a basement and by the evening following my firing, clients were coming over to train in my basement. A couple of days later, the local YMCA hired me as an instructor, and although I knew they would not be able to offer me much in salary, I knew it was important that I just keep moving. I hired an attorney resulting in the state declaring I was unlawfully fired and awarded damages along with removing the a non-compete clause, thus giving me total ownership of the program’s name and brand created by me.

By years end I was opening my first private studio under the very name I created and was awarded. My assistant never returned to work for them taking my job they’d offered her. Instead, we pivoted rather gracefully together as she joined me to continue what we had built from scratch. The first mind /body fitness studio in Brookfield WI. It was even more successful with many those very clients today as friends and currently still training a few of them over thirty years.

As Darth Vader say, “you can use your powers for good or bad, but you must know when to pivot”. I’m certain this is not a true quote, but you get the idea.

Personally, I don’t believe you can exist through this life without adapting some of the good qualities of “The Artful Dodger”.

After all, “resistance is futile”, so the sooner you accept “The Artful Pivot”, you can reduce personal suffering while aligning yourself to your souls greater purpose and evolution.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.monkeytailintelligentexercise.com
• Instagram: monkeytail intelligent exercise
• Facebook: monkeytail intelligent exercise
• Youtube: Monkeytail Intelligent Exercise
• Other: TikTok